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HarJel III Auto-Repair System

BattleMech HarJel System

Contents

HarJel is a black gel developed by Clan Diamond Shark. It is created from a naturally occurring (petroleum-like?) substance, of which Clan Diamond Shark controls the only sources. This material can be found in the Twycross system[1] and in the Clan Homeworlds. Clan Diamond Shark sells HarJel to all the other Clans.

The Diamond Sharks introduced this system in 3059, but by 3067 the Lyran Alliance had reverse-engineered the system.[2] The BattleMech HarJel System is an experimental piece of equipment that closes gaps in the armor of a BattleMech. This allows a 'Mech equipped with such a system (like the Aquagladius) to operate underwater without fearing a hull breach, as long as armor is still present. (Once all armor is gone from a location, it's automatically breached.) The system's main drawbacks are its bulk and its behavior when hit by weapons fire. The bulk issue results from the need to have a HarJel system in every location that needs to be protected. If a HarJel system is destroyed by weapons fire all HarJel stored in that location will expand automatically, flooding the components and weapons with sealant and rendering them useless. Removing the hardened sealant effectively doubles repair time. Ammunition stored in a HarJel-encased location cannot be dumped.[2]

BattleMech HarJel Systems weigh one ton and take up a single critical location in a BattleMech.[3] Each location to be protected needs its own BattleMech HarJel System, so to completely protect a BattleMech would require seven systems: One for each arm, leg, and torso location. Due to the potentially crippling drawbacks, BattleMech HarJel systems cannot be installed in the location carrying the cockpit.[2] The BattleMech HarJel System costs 120,000 C-Bills per critical slot.[3]

BattleMech HarJel Systems can also be used by combat vehicles, but cannot be installed in a rotor or body location.[2]